V8 Supercars announces 2016 calendar

2016 sees the V8 Supercars race outside Australasia for the first time since 2013. Photo: V8 SupercarsV8 Supercars has released its calendar for the 2016 season, with the addition of a championship event in Malaysia and a more compact schedule described by the category’s CEO as “the most exciting the sport had seen and a major win for fans”.

The 16-event schedule, which gets underway with the Clipsal 500 on March 3-6, sees the season compressed to a period of 38 weeks but features more regular racing with several events separated by just two weeks.

Along with the category’s first international event since 2013, the other significant change sees the Phillip Island event move to April from its traditional spot in November, and the Sydney 500 finale brought forward a week to the last weekend in November. A four-week winter break will take place between the Winton SuperSprint on May 21-22 and the Darwin Triple Crown on June 18-19.

“We have a taken a close look at the calendar and come up with something that will be great for the teams, drivers and fans across Australia,” said CEO James Warburton.

“This more compact calendar delivers consistent and regular events throughout the season and expands the championship into Asia in what is a truly exciting development for the sport.

“We believe it will result in an even bigger following for our sport both locally and overseas with bigger crowds and our expanded television coverage on Fox Sports and Network Ten.

“A more condensed calendar will help build even more momentum and still provide adequate breaks for the teams and drivers.

“We have also moved the Coates Hire Sydney 500 forward to the end of November in what we expect will be a massive grand finale to the season.”

After a successful demonstration event in Kuala Lumpur last month, V8 Supercars will return to the Malaysian capital in August making a headline appearance at the KL City Grand Prix on the city centre street circuit.

“Malaysians were genuinely excited to see our five cars race through the streets of KL and we can only imagine their reaction when the full field is on the grid next year,” Warburton said.

“We expect up to 10,000 Australians to travel to Kuala Lumpur for the event which will also build exposure for V8 Supercars across Asia.”

With the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix pushed back by two weeks, the Albert Park event will switch places with the Tasmania Super Sprint. The support card event presently remains a non points-paying event, although it’s understood the event could still gain championship status.

The two-day pre-season test in February has also been scrapped in favour of a static season launch event, with teams to be allowed to do more testing during the season.

With Perth dates scheduled for May 6 to 8 next year, the future of the Barbagallo event has been secured with confirmation of a new three-year deal with the West Australian Government.

Minor changes to the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 schedule have also been announced with amendments to the race’s start time and practice session lengths. Pushed back by 30 minutes, the race will now start at 11:00am local time, with the warm-up starting 30 minutes later than previously at 8:20am in line with the start time change. The four full field practice sessions will also be reduced from 50 to 45 minutes.

“Whether they be sprint races or endurance events, we are committed to delivering first class entertainment and unprecedented access for fans to their heroes,” said Warburton.

V8 Supercars 2016 Calendar

Event

Location

Date

Format

Clipsal 500

Adelaide Parklands Circuit, SA

March 3-6

Super Street

Tyrepower Tasmania Super Sprint

Symmons Plains Raceway, TAS

March 18-20

Super Sprint

Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix

Albert Park, VIC

March 31- April 3

International Super Sprint

WD-40 Phillip Island Super Sprint

Phillip Island Circuit, VIC

April 15-17

Super Sprint

Perth Super Sprint

Barbagallo Raceway, WA

May 6-8

Super Sprint

Winton Super Sprint

Winton Motor Raceway, VIC

May 20-22

Super Sprint

Skycity Triple Crown Darwin

Hidden Valley Raceway, NT

June 17-19

Super Sprint

Castrol Edge Townsville 400

Reid Park, QLD

July 8-10

Super Street

Coates Hire Ipswich Super Sprint

Queensland Raceway, QLD

July 22-24

Super Sprint

KL City Grand Prix

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

August 12-14

International Super Sprint

Sydney Motorsport Park Super Sprint

Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW

August 26-28

Super Sprint

Wilson Security Sandown 500

Sandown Raceway, VIC

September 16-18

Pirtek Enduro Cup

Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000

Mount Panorama, NSW

October 6-9

Pirtek Enduro Cup

Castrol Gold Coast 600

Surfers Paradise, QLD

October 21-23

Pirtek Enduro Cup

ITM Auckland Super Sprint

Pukekohe Raceway, NZ

November 4-6

Super Sprint

Coates Hire Sydney 500

Sydney Olympic Park, NSW

November 25-27

Super Street

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Reader Interactions

Comments

I think this is great more racing , less Sprint stuff , and I hope the chance for some drivers to go to overseas Races to compete . the KL Race looks very good and will spur me to save up and go to the event . Overall a good Calender

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